Page 7 of Fated for his Flame

I lifted an eyebrow. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. What did you do this time?”

“Nothing,” he rumbled, shifting uncomfortably as he pulled his black shirt back into place. “We made a deal; that’s all.”

“What sort of deal?”

“The same I imagine you made if you’re here and not in with the Council and your father.”

I shook my head. “You have me at a loss. I thought I was here to meet with the sovereign. She told me to be here today at this time.”

Ajax smirked. “That sounds a lot like a deal to me. Probably the same sort of one as me.”

I was starting to grow tired of his know-it-all attitude. “You’re enjoying this.”

“Oh, so very much.” He was chuckling now. “You honestly have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into?”

“No.”

“Well, at least I won’t be the only one suffering the humiliation.”

Both my eyebrows went up. Ajax was not the sort to let himself be humiliated. What could he possibly need so badly he would agree to that?

“Just how is it we’re being humiliated?”

“Did you hear about the ceasefire and terms?” Ajax asked.

“Yes. I couldn’t believe she was serious. Dragons and humans? It’s preposterous. Not that I was in favor of the war continuing. It was becoming a slaughter, nothing more. But to bring them here? It makes no sense.”

“I said much the same when my aunt made me aware of the situation.”

Ajax was part of the royal family, although not directly in line of succession. If anyone knew the sovereign better, it was her family. If even they couldn’t fathom her intentions, that didn’t bode well.

“What does all that have to do with us, though?” I asked.

Fully basking in my suffering for several long moments, Ajax finally relented, leaning in and placing a hand on my shoulder as he stared at me. “She’s bringing the women here to be mates, Silas.”

“I’m aware.”

A broad grin spread. “That means there must be dragons who take them …”

I inhaled sharply, backing up a step. “You’re taking a human as your mate?”

“Not just me, Silas. Not just me.” He clapped me on the shoulder and headed down the stairs into the palace, leaving me to wrestle with the implication of his words.

“No,” I said, denying it. “That’s not possible. She wouldn’t ask that of me. She can’t.”

Deny it though I tried, I knew he was telling the truth.

Whirling, I rushed past the guards and down into the bowels of the palace. I made a beeline for her office, expecting her to be there instead of in the throne room. If the sovereign had to put up with the entire Council today, she would spend as much of her time alone in solitude as possible before doing so. I hoped.

She was just leaving when I rounded the corner.

“Silas.”

“My Sovereign,” I said, drawing up stiffly into a salute. “You tricked me.”

She smiled. “I see someone spilled the secret.”

I just stared. “I’m not doing this. I will not mate with a human.”

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